Information for Applicants
Letter from the Department Chair
Dear Prospective Student:
The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Chicago has a long tradition of excellence in the study of French, Italian, and Spanish literatures and cultures. We actively recruit the best and most talented of graduate students and include them in the wide-ranging intellectual activities of the department. The excellence of our graduate students is one of our greatest assets and we hope that you'll be able to join us.
At Chicago, we believe in intellectual openness, interdisciplinary work, and close mentoring of graduate students. Our faculty includes natioanlly known scholars and excellent young specialists. We are the proud hosts of numerous programs of cooperation with universities in France, Italy, and Spain. Our library resources are among the best.
I urge you to visit us before deciding to come here. There are several very fine programs of French, Italian, and Spanish in this country. We want you to be sure that this is the place where you wish to be and that our intellectual values are close to your own. Each year at the beginning of March, the department organizes campus visits for students who have been accepted into the graduate program. Also, some prospective applicants visit us in the autumn term preceding the application deadline. If you would like to arrange a visit, please contact the Department Coordinator, Jennifer Hurtarte (773/834-5880).
I hope you will apply to Chicago and consider us a high priority. Applicants to the graduate program are required to send their transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a writing sample in their major language (i.e., French, Italian, Spanish), Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores from the general examination, and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores, if applicable. If you have any questions, please contact our graduate advisors Thomas Pavel (French), Rebecca West (Italian), and Armando Maggi (Spanish). Feel free to e-mail me , and I will be happy to answer your additional questions.
The application deadline for all programs will be December 15, 2009, and the online application is available September 1, 2009. We invite you to apply electronically using the Division of the Humanities online application and find out more about the graduate experience at the University of Chicago from the Humanities Dean of Students. Below you will find direct links to further information on that will be of use in researching our program and preparing a visit. I look forward to having an opportunity to meet you in the future or, better yet, to welcome you here.
Best regards,
Philippe Desan
Howard L. Willett Professor and Department Chair